we know you've bati t r h oni t cma s ste dartmen in that late-day briefing to reporters made his position known drawing a sharp distinction from the white house narrative that was a demonstration that spun out of control. >> they hd a broad news confenceveheho thtevnar department's position, i repeat, never been the state department's position that in fact this assault was part of a row actio reaction to a s croray numous tnes ast-bwers. >> reporter: committee members told this morning in opening statements that there was a preoccupation in washington with reducing the number of american security personnel at the consulate and rlacing them with libyan guards, that there was a rusho move towards a durenc aer a sies ttacheai sainnemptt british ambassador. >> the secretary bombing was an improvised explosive device that was placed on the northgate breaching the wall. it was a test by tstnd ucnd w dn'tspul adequately. >>eporter: fox was first to report on september 17th based on an intelligence source on the ground in libya there was no demonstration at the consulate. that reporting severely